The Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI; http://www.osli.ca/) is looking for an alternative to conventional fencing methods with the aim to separate Woodland Caribou from their natural predators in the boreal forest areas of north eastern Alberta, Canada.

This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.

Overview

Large areas in boreal forests in northern Alberta, Canada are being considered for the protection of Woodland Caribou. As part of this initiative, natural predators (bears, wolves and coyotes) must be kept out of the area, while preventing the Caribou from leaving the area. Conventional fencing has several drawbacks (cost, maintenance, permeability) so the Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI; http://www.osli.ca/) is looking for alternatives to conventional fencing methods.

This is an Ideation Challenge, which has the following unique features:

There is a guaranteed award. The awards will be paid to the best submission(s) as solely determined by the Seeker. The total payout will be $10,000 or more, with at least one award being no smaller than $5,000 and no award being smaller than $1,000.

The Solvers are not required to transfer exclusive intellectual property rights to the Seeker. Rather, by submitting a proposal, the Solvers grants to the Seeker a royalty-free, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use any information included in this proposal.

After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s).All Solvers that submitted a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions; however, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.

About the Seeker:

The Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI) is a collaborative network of companies operating in the Canadian oil sands. Each OSLI company develops its assets individually, but works collaboratively to achieve significant improvements in key performance areas: environmental sustainability, social well-being and economic viability. To formalize this approach, in April 2010 ConocoPhillips Canada, Nexen Inc., Statoil Canada, Suncor Energy Inc. and Total E&P Canada Ltd. signed the OSLI Charter, agreeing to work collaboratively on non-competitive issues, and share research and best practices. Shell Canada joined in 2011.

The initiative is founded on a common understanding among OSLI members of the need to work together to meet the challenges of responsible development.

What is InnoCentive?

InnoCentive is the global innovation marketplace where creative minds solve some of the world's most important problems for cash awards up to $1 million. Commercial, governmental and humanitarian organizations engage with InnoCentive to solve problems that can impact humankind in areas ranging from the environment to medical advancements.

What is an InnoCentive Ideation™ Challenge?

An InnoCentive Ideation™ Challenge is a broad question formulated to obtain access to new ideas, similar to a global brainstorm for producing a breakthrough idea or market survey which may include ideas for a new product line, a new commercial application for a current product, or even a viral marketing idea to recruit new customers. Ideation™ Challenge submissions are typically about two written pages, and Seekers receive a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use all submissions.

In an Ideation™ Challenge, Solvers may:

Submit ideas of their own

Submit third party information that they have the right to use and further the authority to convey that right and the right to use and develop derivative works to Seekers

Submit information considered in the public domain without any limitations on use

Solvers should not reveal any confidential information in their submissions. Often the Ideation™ Challenge will be followed by one or more of the other three Challenge types to further develop the ideas and gain Intellectual Property protection when the concept has been well-defined.